Device for dispensing postage-stamps.



LLBRGHE. DEVICE FOR DISPENSING POSTAGE STAMPS. I

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1912.

mama Jul 1,1913,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

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Itmcss'cs Attorneys J. LERGHE.

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING POSTAGE STAMPS.

. APPLIOATJION FILED JAN. 24, 1912. v1,066,126.

Patented July 1, 1913.

SHEETS-333E132. 5 4' 8 Attorneys LLBRGHE. v DEVICE FOR. DISPENSING POSTAGE STAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1912.

Patented July 1,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Invent or larch f WM Attorneys srarns rarnn'r onnron.

JULIUS LERCHE, OF STEGLITZ, GERMANY, ASS IGNORQIO DEUTSCHE POST- 'UND EISENBAHN VERKEHRSWESEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, (DAPAG- EFUIBAG,) 0F STAAKEN, NEAR SPANDAU, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING POSTAGE-STAMPS. v

Specification of Letters Patent.

i i Patented July 1,1913.

Application filed January 24, 1912. Serial No. 673,243.

To all wit-0m 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS Lnnonn, residing at 40 Arndtstrasse, Steglitz', Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Dispensing Postage-Stampsand the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for dispensing postage stamps, tickets and the'like manufactured in the form of bands or continuous strips and Wound in rolls.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, easily operated device whereby a long strip of material containing a number of stamps or tickets printed thereon in consecutive order may be quickly and accurately unrolled and fed from the device in convenient position to permit the required number of stamps or tickets to be torn or cut from the body of the strip.

To this end the invent-ion consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in detail and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in-which Figure l is a face view of the guide channel detached, through which the stamp strip is drawn. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same on the line AB. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of the channel. Fig. 4; is a cross-sectional view on the line CD, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of a modified form of the guide channel. Fig. 6 is aface view of the same showing the delivery end only of the channel. Fig. 7 is a face view of the preferred form of theinvention complete. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line E-F of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the same on the line GH.

In the accompanying drawings, a Figs. 7 and 8 indicates a roll comprising a strip 6 of stamps, tickets or the like which may have transverse perforations, indentations or other means I)? between the impressions,

if desired, to assist in separating the stamps. This strip is carried from the roll athrough a guide channel f made preferably of sheet metal in the form of a straight fiattube, indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and L in the simplest form of the invention, or longitudinally curved if desired, having an open slot 9 on its upper side extending from one end, or from near one end of said channel to the other into which a finger of the hand is inserted when stamps or tickets are to be fed from the device. On the face of the guide channel f is a scale (Z the graduations of which correspond to the distance between the perforation or indentation 6 between the stamps. with the graduation indicating the number of stamps desired, as shown by the dotted circle 0, see Fig. l, and pressed firmly against the strip, on drawing the finger downwardly the strip will follow until the finger strikes the lower end 6 of the slot 9 which in this instance is at a predetermined distance from the end of the guide channel. This movement of the strip will cause a proper length thereof to be fed from the guide channel containing the exact number of stamps indicated by the graduation opposite which the finger was placed. To obtain a more secure grasp on the strip the guide channel f may have a slot 9 in both its upper and lower sides,

as indicatedvin Fig. 3, in which case If the finger be placed in line Y the thumb and forefinger will grasp the strip on opposite sides as readily understood.

As the means employed for moving the strip is arrested at the same terminal point in each instance whatever the number of stamps required, means may be provided which will permit the strip to move uninruptedly, freely, or without noticeable friction through the guide channel from the moment it is grasped until the stamps or tickets to be dispensed have been delivered,

when said means will be caused to clamp or otherwise hold the strip against further movement, itbeing understood that the moment the clamping means stops the advance of the strip the proper number of stamps have been ejected from the guide channel and lie in position to be torn or cut from the strip.- 1

A simple form of strip clamping means is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein a plate Z mounted fast on alongitudinal shaft 41 pivoted to the guide channel f, lies normally across. the guide channel below the same and downwardly at an angle thereto as shown' in Fig. 5. The plate Z extends longitudi nallyof said channel a distance equal to the length of the scale 03, said plate terminating a short distance'back of the delivery end of the guide channel, as shown in Fig. 6. At the delivery end of the guide channel and extending transversely across the same is a clamping bar mounted upon the projecting lower end of the shaft 42 and held firmly against the stamp strip 6 by a spring m connected to a fixed part of the device and to an arm m projecting from the shaft 2:, said clamping bar pressing the strip against the underside of the guide channel with sulficient force to arrest the delivery or withdrawing movement of the strip.

When one or more stamps are needed the thumb is placed upon the face of the strip through the slot g at the graduation of the scaleindicating the number of stamps desired and the fingers of the same hand press on the back of the strip. The backs of the fingers are thus made to bear downwardly on the plate Z in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, thereby rocking the shaft 0 and causing it to withdraw the clamping bar is from contact with the strip. The strip is now free to move and may be drawn forward by the thumb and finger to deliver the stamps or tickets, the fingers of the hand sliding over the plate Z until they slip off the same at the lower end. When this occurs a length of strip will have been ejected from the guide channel containing the exact number of stamps required. The moment the fingers leave the plate Z, the spring at will rock the shaft o and cause the clamping bar 70 to once more press the strip against the guide channel and prevent its withdrawal. The ejected portion of the strip may then be torn OE and the several stamps separated.

A preferred form of the complete device for locking the strip after the required number of stamps have been fed out is represented in Figs. 7 8 and 9. In this form of the invention the strip roll a, is mounted to revolve within a casing K from one end of which projects a straight guide channel f having its scale (1 and slot 9 on its upper side as shown in Fig. 7. lVithin the casing K and above the inner end f of the guide channel f are a plurality of pawls or latches .2 placed in parallel relation and mounted on a shaft 2 said pawls projecting through a slot n in the upper side of the guide chan nel to engage one of the transverse lines of perforations in the strip Z). The pawls or latches are preferably actuated by gravity, a spring or other means may be employed for holding them in engagement with the perforations b if desired. Pivot-ed at 00 to the casing K is a lever y the free end of which lies below the guide channel 7 and extends from the connection of said guide channel to the casing nearly to its delivery end as indicated in Fig. 8, andlies, normally, a short distance from the guide channel, so that it may be elevated by the fingers of the operator. Attached to the lever y within the casing are two brackets to which project upwardly on opposite sides of the inner end 7 of the guide channel and are connected above the same and below the pawls or latches a by a pin 10 As thus constructed, when stamps are desired the thumb is placed on the strip at the graduation indicating the number of stamps needed while the fingers press upwardly on the lever y, the tips of the fingers projecting through a slot 9 of said lever and assist the thumb in grasping the strip. The upward movement of the lever 3/ raises the pin 10 which striking the underside of the pawls or latches a lifts them out of engagement with the perforation in the strip 6 so that the latter may be moved easily through the guide channel when pulled by the thumb and fingers. As soon as the fingers pass from the lower end of the lever '10 the latter falls by gravity carrying the pin to downward thus releasing the pawls .2 which immediately fall on the strip so that their pointed ends will be in position to engage the next advancing line or perforation b and lock the strip against further move ment, the thumb and fingers by their downward movement havin previously delivered from the extremity of the guide channel a length of the strip containing the proper number of stamps.

Figs. 10 and 11 show another modification of the strip locking mechanism somewhat similar to that of Figs. 7 and 8 but having a more positive strip locking device. In a casing K is mounted the strip roll a, the stamp or ticket strip Z) passing from thence over adrum it having peripheral pins 6 spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the rows of perforations b in the strip, which pins engage said perforations for the purpose of giving positive rotation to the drum. On the side of the drum h are a plurality of lugs n equal in number to the number of pins 2'. Projecting from the casing K is the guide channel f having the finger slot 9 below which channel lies a lever similar to the lever y in Figs. 7 and 8, said lever being pivoted at (17 in the top of the casing K A stop 0 on the lever 1 lies normally in the path of the lugs n and locks the drum it against turning. When, however, the thumb and finger grasp the strip to withdraw the same, the fingers of the hand lift the lever y which movement carries the stop 0 out of the path of the lugs 01., .so that on drawing the strip Z) downward the drum it will rotate until the fingers slip off the lever 3 which permits said lever to drop by gravity to normaPposition and carry the stop 0 into the path of the next approaching lug-n to arrest its movement when it strikes the stop 0 In this manner the drum h is brought to rest to halt'further can therefore recognize the-required nu1n-- ber of stamps desired even without the aid of the graduation mark as readily as if the stamps were not in the device. Errors in grasping the stamps up to one half the length of the stamp are compensated for by the pawl a in the device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and by the lugs 12. and stop 0 of the device of Fig. 10. If for any reason the dispensing of stamps is to be stopped this may be readily effected by locking the plate Z of one form of the device or the lever 12 or 9 in other forms of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing stamps, tickets and the like from a continuous strip, comprising a guide or way through which the stamp strip is moved, said guide or way having a longitudinal slot therein through which a persons finger is placed to engage and draw the strip, a scale on said guide or way for measuring the number of stamps to be dispensed and means for automatically arresting the withdrawal of the strip after the desired number of stamps have been ejected.

2. A device for dispensing stamps, tickets and the like from a continuous strip, comprising a guide or way through which the strip is moved by grasping it with the fingers between the ends of the guide or way, a scale on said guide for measuring the number of tickets to be dispensed, and means for normally locking the strip in the guide, said means adapted to be automatically unlocked by the fingers when grasping the strip and held unlocked until the desired number of stamps or tickets have been withdrawn.

3. A device for dispensing stamps, tickets and the like, from a continuous strip comprising a guide or way through which the stamp strip is moved by grasping it with the fingers between the ends of the guide or way, a scale on said guide for measuring the number of tickets to be dispensed, means for locking the strip in the guide or way, and means operated by the fingers when grasping the strip for disconnecting said locking means from the strip and ermitting it to lock again automatically w en the desired number of stamps or tickets have been withdrawn.

4. A device for dispensing stamps, tickets and the like from a continuous strip, comprising a guide or way through which the stamp strip is moved by grasping it with the fingers between the ends of the guide or way, a scale on said guide for measuring the number of stamps to be dispensed, means for normally locking the strip in the guide, and a lever extending below said guide or way operated by the fingers when grasping the strip adapted to disconnect said locking means and hold it disconnected until the desired number of stamps have been fed out, whereupon said lever will be automatically disengaged by the fingers and the looking means permitted to resume its normal position.

5. A device for dispensing stamps, tickets and the like, impressed on a continuous strip and separated by a row of transverse perforations, comprising a guide or way through which the stamp strip is moved by grasping it with the fingers between ends of the guide, a pawl normally engaging a perforation in the stamp strip to lock it against movement, and a lever extending below said guide or way operated by the fingers when grasping the strip, adapted to disconnect said pawl from the strip and hold it disconnected until the desired number of stamps have been fed out, whereupon said lever will be automatically disengaged by the fingers and the pawl permitted to resume its normal position.

6. A device for dispensing stamps, tickets and the like, impressed on a continuous strip and separated by a row of transverse perforations, comprising a guide or way through which the stamp strip is moved, said guide or way having a longitudinal slot through the upper and lower sides to permit the fingers grasping the strip, a scale on said guide for measuring the number of stamps to be dispensed, a plurality of gravity operated pawls normally engaging a row of perforations in the-stamp strip to lock said strip against movement, a lever extending longitudinally of said guide or way beneath the same near to its delivery end adapted to be operated by the fingers when grasping the strip, and a pin or bar carried by said, lever and lying beneath the pawls to disengage them from said strip to unlock the same when the lever is operated by the fingers, said strip remaining unlocked until the fingers leave the lever.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JULIUS LEROHE. Witnesses:

HENRY HAsPER, WOLDEMAR HAUPT.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

